* Latest edition of Haleon Pain Index finds half (49%) of people in pain feel

    stigmatised(()(1)()()(2)())
  * 42% regularly feel lonely due to their pain, and one third feel serious
    loneliness (based on UCLA loneliness scale)(()(3)())
  * 32% of people living in pain fear they will be judged
  * Women, people of colour and the LGBQ+ community are worst affected
  * Gen Z more likely to feel unheard than Baby Boomers

LONDON, Sept. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new study of 18,097 people across
18 countries has discovered that society has grown less tolerant of people in
pain, despite the effects of COVID-19 boosting global health awareness.
The fifth edition of the Haleon Pain Index (HPI)(()(1)), conducted by consumer
health company Haleon, suggests that attitudes towards pain in post-pandemic
society are now more judgemental and less tolerant, with half (49%) of those in
pain feeling stigmatised and a third (32%) fearing they will be judged about
their pain.
The global index has been exploring the real impact pain has on people's lives
for almost a decade. This year's study has found that, since the first edition
in 2014, the social and emotional impact of pain has grown by nearly 25%, with
stigma and social isolation arising from everyday pain increasing worldwide.
42% of people questioned said they regularly experience loneliness when in pain.
Feelings of serious loneliness emerged globally, with 38% of people in mainland
China, 33% in Australia and 32% in the UK reporting this. This coincides with
warnings about the public health impacts of loneliness and social isolation
issued by the World Health Organisation(()(4)()) and the Loneliness
Epidemic(()(5)()) pointed out in spring 2023.
Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Psychologist and Author, commented: "Everyday pain is a
health issue that can easily be dismissed or trivialised. Many don't realise its
effects can be much worse than the symptoms themselves. The result of loneliness
and mental health impact caused by lack of empathy and being treated differently
is only worsening. As a society, we need to improve empathy and understanding in
a world that is continuing to harden to these issues."
The HPI discovered that people who already experience bias, discrimination, and
exclusion in society are the worst affected by these hardening views on pain.

  * 58% of women said their pain had been treated differently, not believed or
    discriminated versus 49% of men. This is highest amongst women in India

(74%), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (74%), Brazil (74%), and mainland China

    (61%).
  * 59% of people of colour said their pain had been treated differently, not
    believed or discriminated versus 48% of white people. This is highest in

Brazil (71%), Poland (64%) and the USA (64%), whilst this is true for 60% in

    the UK.
  * 44% of LGBQ+ people feared that others will make assumptions about them and
    their pain, compared to 32% of heterosexuals. This is highest in India
    (61%), USA (54%), Canada (49%) and Australia (48%).

The study also revealed a sharp generational divide in the way people experience
pain, suggesting that younger patients struggle most with making their pain
known and accessing treatment:

  * 70% of Gen Z said their pain had been treated differently, not believed or
    discriminated, compared to 40% of Baby Boomers. This is highest in India
    (80%), the USA (79%) and for 74% of UK respondents.
  * 45% of Gen Z said being in pain was too much of a taboo for them to speak
    out, compared to 35% of Boomers.

While the older generation find it easier to express their pain and access
treatment, they are the most marginalised when it comes to accessing health-
related information online. 45% of 75-84-year-olds said they struggle to access
this online because they do not feel confident navigating the internet, compared
with 33% overall.
Respondents agreed on the need for a more personalised and compassionate view of
pain. More than two thirds (68%) of people said more empathy to address bias and
exclusion would make a real difference to their experience of pain. Meanwhile,
69% said they wished doctors and 62% wished pharmacists were better trained on
how individual pain is for different patients.
Lisa Jennings, Head of Global Over the Counter Category at Haleon, said: "While
pain is a universal human experience, resulting in loneliness and stigma for
many, its impact varies considerably between social groups, with the most
marginalised amongst the worst affected. Our ambition is to break down the
barriers to achieving better everyday health for everyone - irrespective of age,
race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability and other factors. The
HPI shows that we can lessen the social and emotional impact of pain by shifting
perceptions and conversations around pain management. That's why we're taking
action through several programs such as our #ListenToPain initiative which is
being rolled out to health professionals across the globe."
Haleon's #ListenToPain programme supports health professionals to improve
communication with patients and have a focused discussion on pain tailored to
the individual. #ListentoPain includes five profiles that describe people with
different attitudes and behaviours towards pain management that help health
professionals customize their approach with their patients. With continuity of
care, truly understanding how pain may change over time means pain management
strategies can be evolved and be more effective in the long term.
Media Contacts
For more information on the HPI, or interview requests please contact:
Nina.bass@edelman.com (mailto:Nina.bass@edelman.com)
Amy.barker@edelman.com (mailto:Amy.barker@edelman.com)
For information on Haleon please contact:
gemma.x.thomas@haleon.com (mailto:gemma.x.thomas@haleon.com)
Notes to Editors
About the Haleon Pain Index study
The Haleon Pain Index (HPI) is a proprietary, globally representative,
longitudinal social study conducted by Edelman Data x Intelligence (DXI). The
study is designed to give a voice to those experiencing pain and assess the
evolving state of pain. The study captures the perceived impact of pain on
individuals' everyday lives, their health, their feelings, emotions, motivations
and behaviours, putting the human experience at the centre. In its fifth
edition, the study assesses health inclusivity barriers to effective pain
treatment. The perceptions of over 18,000 respondents across 18 countries were
captured as part of the fifth edition.
Markets tracked in HPI 5: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France,
Germany, India, Italy, KSA, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, UK, USA.
The age groups are split into different generations:

  * Gen Z: those between 18-26 years old
  * Millennials: those between 27-42 years old
  * Gen X: those between 43-58 years old
  * Boomers 1*: those between 59-66 years old
  * Boomers 2*: those between 67-77 years old
  * Silent: those between 78-84 years old

1*For the first time, the Haleon Pain Index (HPI) is now capturing the voice of
experts, GPs, Pharmacists, and Nurses, in 4 key markets: Australia, Germany, KSA
and the USA. In this first edition, we've gathered insights from over 600
experts (150 per market*) through a 15-minute online bespoke survey, exploring
their views on pain, their challenges as healthcare professionals and the role
they can play in driving positive change.
2*In the USA, our interviews included a mix of physicians and nurses; in
Australia and KSA, a mix of physicians and pharmacists, and in Germany, a
combination of pharmacists and pharmacists' assistants.
About Listen To Pain
#ListenToPain is a global initiative from Haleon to enable health professionals
to maximise their time with patients and help them to better understand a
patient's pain experience - providing the sufferer with a treatment plan that is
right for them. Located on Haleon Health Partner, a dedicated digital platform
for health professionals, #ListenToPain includes a series of practical tools for
better interactions, assessments, and outcomes. These tools and resources for
pharmacists will help them understand their patients pain better and navigate
conversations around pain management.
Further information and the full range of #ListentoPain resources can we found
on www.haleonhealthpartner.com (http://www.haleonhealthpartner.com/).
About Haleon
Haleon (LSE / NYSE: HLN) is a global leader in consumer health, with a purpose
to deliver better everyday health with humanity. Haleon's product portfolio
spans five major categories - Oral Health, Pain Relief, Respiratory Health,
Digestive Health and Other, and Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS). Its
long-standing brands - such as Advil, Sensodyne, Panadol, Voltaren, Theraflu,
Otrivin, Polident, parodontax and Centrum - are built on trusted science,
innovation and deep human understanding.
For more information, please visit www.haleon.com (http://www.haleon.com/).
(___________________________________________________)
(1) Haleon. Pain Index. 2023. Data on file.
(2) The Haleon Pain Index is formerly known as the Global Pain Index.
(3) Russell, D, et al.,1978. Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of
Personality Assessment, 42, 290-294. Available:
https://fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/stories/pdf/selfmeasures/Self_Measures_for_Loneliness_and_Interpersonal_Problems_UCLA_LONELINESS.pdf.
(2023, September 18).
(4) World Health Organization (WHO). N.d. Social Isolation and Loneliness.
Available: https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-
change-and-healthy-ageing/social-isolation-and-loneliness (2023, September 18).
(5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023. Health Risks of Social
Isolation and Loneliness. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/emotional-
wellbeing/social-
connectedness/loneliness.htm#:-:text=Social%20isolation%20and%20loneliness%20have,linked%20to%20increased%20risk%20for%3A&text=Heart%20disease%20and%20stroke.,Type%202%20diabetes.
(2023, September 18).
Â